Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo was born to Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo and Sophie Trébuchet in Besançon, France. His father was an officer in Napoleon's army, which influenced Hugo's early life and writings.

Hugo begins his formal education at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris, where he excels academically and starts to develop his literary talents.

Hugo's first poems are published in the literary journal Conservateur Littéraire, marking the beginning of his literary career and earning him early recognition.

Hugo marries Adèle Foucher, with whom he has five children. Their marriage is marked by both deep love and periods of strain, particularly due to Hugo's infidelities.

Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' is published, becoming an instant classic and cementing his reputation as a leading Romantic writer. The novel explores themes of beauty, ugliness, and social injustice.

Hugo is elected to the prestigious Académie Française, which recognizes his significant contributions to French literature and cements his status as a leading intellectual of his time.

Hugo enters politics as a member of the Constituent Assembly following the February Revolution. He advocates for social reforms and the establishment of a republic, though his political career is marked by both success and controversy.

Following the coup d'état by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, Hugo goes into exile to the Channel Islands, where he continues to write and criticize the regime. He remains in exile for nearly 20 years.

Hugo publishes his magnum opus, 'Les Misérables,' a sprawling novel that tackles social issues and human suffering. It is an international success and is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of the 19th century.

After the fall of the Second Empire, Hugo returns to France and is welcomed as a national hero. He continues to write and remains an influential figure in French literature and politics.

Victor Hugo dies in Paris, leaving behind a vast literary legacy. His state funeral is a grand affair, with thousands of mourners paying their respects to one of France's greatest writers.